2 Samuel 1

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from smiting the 'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two days.

After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days.

2 And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

Then on the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he approached David, he bowed before him, and fell to the ground in respect.

3 And David said unto him, From where comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

“Where have you come from?” David asked him. “I got away from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

4 And David said unto him, What took place there? I pray thee, tell me. And he said, That the people are fled from the battle, and that also many of the people are fallen and have died; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

“Tell me what happened,” David asked. “The army ran away from the battle,” the man replied. “Many of them died, and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.”

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son?

“How do you know Saul and Jonathan died?” David asked the man giving the report.

6 And the young man that told him said, I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa', when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him.

“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” he replied. “I saw Saul, leaning on his spear, with the enemy chariots and the charioteers advancing on him.

7 And he turned round, and he saw me, and called unto me, And I said, Here am I.

He turned around and saw me. He called out and I replied, ‘I'm here to help!’

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou! And I answered him, An 'Amalekite am I.

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I'm an Amalekite.’

9 And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me, although my life is yet whole in me.

Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’

10 So I placed myself by him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them unto my lord hither.

So I went over him and killed him, because I knew that wounded as he was he couldn't last long. I took the crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I've brought them here to you, my lord.”

11 David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and [so did] likewise all the men that were with him:

David grabbed hold of his clothes and ripped them, as did his men.

12 And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

They mourned and cried and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord, the Israelites, that had been killed by the sword.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of a stranger, an 'Amalekite, am I.

David asked man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I'm the son of a foreigner,” he replied “I'm an Amalekite.”

14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

“Why weren't you worried about killing the Lord's anointed one?” David asked.

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon thy own head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lord's anointed.

David had told the Amalekite, “Your death is your own fault because you testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed one.’”

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.

18 And he said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.

He ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. It is called “the Bow” and is recorded in the Book of the Just:

19 O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: how are the mighty fallen!

“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.

Don't announce it in the town of Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the Philistine women won't rejoice, so that the heathen women won't celebrate.

21 O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned never back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.

Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.

23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the dear in their lives, were even in their death not divided: more than eagles were they swift, more than lions were they strong.

During their lives, Saul and Jonathan were much loved and very pleasant, and death did not divide them. They were faster than eagles, stronger than lions.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain.

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on your mountains.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful was thy love for me, passing the love of women.

I weep so much for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so very dear to me! Your love for me was so wonderful, greater than the love women have!

27 How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instruments of war!

How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”